Latest news with #NationalChildAbuseAwarenessMonth
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Boyfriend of 1-year-old's mother accused of toddler's 2024 murder in DC
Boyfriend of 1-year-old's mother accused of toddler's 2024 murder in DC Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu A Washington, D.C. man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 1-year-old daughter, according to local authorities and court documents. The toddler, Journee Moore, died on Sept. 28, 2024, from multiple blunt force injuries, and the medical examiner in the District of Columbia ruled her death a homicide, the Metropolitan Police Department said on May 9. Wayne Blake, 24, of Northwest Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, and cruelty to children, police said. USA TODAY contacted Blake's public defender on May 14 but has not received a response. Toddler had multiple injuries, including rib fractures Someone called police to a home in northwest Washington, D.C., around 10:49 p.m. on Sept. 28, court documents filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, which USA TODAY obtained, say. Police found Journee unconscious in the apartment complex lobby, according to the court documents. The girl's mother and Blake were performing CPR on the child before emergency responders rushed the girl to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead by 11:32 p.m., the document continued. Investigators stated the girl had at least six bruises, contusions, or lacerations on her body, including a healed bruise on her ankle and a 'fresh bruise on her inner lower lip,' court documents show. The medical examiner's office also discovered she had a liver laceration and rib fractures, court documents show. The lacerated liver occurred within 12 hours of the girl's death, while the rib fracture happened closer to her death, the document says. Wayne Blake told police he found toddler 'balled up on the floor' Blake told police he and the toddler's mother stepped out of a bedroom in the apartment for 5 to 10 minutes, and when he returned, Journee was 'balled up on the floor,' according to court documents. He added that the girl was limping, so he picked her up, put her on the bed, and performed CPR. Blake said the girl's mother wanted to call for an ambulance, but he didn't, the court documents say. At the hospital, Blake told an officer, 'I feel (expletive) bad as (expletive),' and suggested the girl suffocated on a pillow, according to the court document. When retelling the story of the girl's emergency, Blake said he and her mother were at the apartment all day aside from when they briefly went to the front of the building, per court documents. Wayne Blake tried waking Journee up when he 'hit her real hard' Blake said the toddler would sometimes stay at the apartment, which he shared with a family member and roommate, per court documents. Journee got sick on Sept. 26 at daycare and had to be picked up, her mother said in court documents. She also had a fever and couldn't return to daycare until the next week. Blake told investigators that sometimes Journee would sleep in his roommate's room. On Sept. 28, the girl slept most of the day, then sometime after 7:00 p.m., Blake cooked some food. Blake recalled feeding the girl in his roommate's room, and then he and the toddler fell asleep together, court documents say. At some point, Blake went to his own room, he told police, per the documents. When Blake went to check on the girl a little later, she was 'wrapped in a blanket, doubled over, and on the floor next to the bed,' he told authorities. He noted that the toddler often fell from the bed, but this day it had happened about three times, and she wasn't crying, according to court documents. Blake realized the girl was unconscious and tried waking her up by calling her name, and he also 'hit her real hard,' per court documents. Eventually, his roommate came up, and Blake told him to get help, so he went to the lobby and called 911. Blake and the toddler's mother would then take the girl to the lobby. Mother previously noticed bruises on Journee The toddler's mother told investigators she was in a "domestic violence relationship" with Blake, and incidents sometimes took place in front of her daughter, per court documents. The girl's mother recalled a time in August 2024 when she asked Blake to watch the girl while she worked. The next time she saw her daughter, the girl had bruises on her face and a cut on her lower lip, according to court records. When the mother asked Blake about it, he said the baby slipped in the bathroom, which she thought was an "odd explanation." She also said she saw Blake shake her child, even after being told to stop, court documents say. The mother told police she did not call authorities or take her daughter to the hospital because she thought Child Protective Services would take the toddler away from her, per court documents. Authorities also looked at surveillance footage and saw Blake enter an elevator holding the girl at 11:03 a.m. on the day she died. She seemed healthy, police said in court documents. The footage showed him carrying her a few minutes later, and again, she seemed to "be in good health." "During the ride, the defendant began bouncing the decedent in what could be described as excessive," authorities wrote in court documents. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Married couple, daughter accused of ‘severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children
Married couple, daughter accused of 'severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu Southern California authorities this week announced the arrest of three family members who they accuse of repeatedly torturing six foster children, one as young as age 5, for years. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, in mid-February, the agency began an investigation into the "severe and prolonged abuse and neglect" of six children, ages 5 to 16, at a home on Helena Drive in Victorville. The city is about 35 miles north of the city of San Bernardino. The investigation led to the May 12 arrest of Kenneth Key, 60, his wife, Tina Key, 60, and their daughter, Katlynn Key, 23, the sheriff's office said. According to the sheriff's department, deputies arrested all three on a torture charge. As of May 14, it is unclear if any of the relatives have legal counsel. Children have been removed from Victorville home Mara Rodriguez, a sheriff's department spokesperson, told USA TODAY that the agency would not release details about the torture but said the children "were subjected to severe trauma and physical abuse." The children were removed from the home at the start of the investigation, Rodriguez said. Officials confirmed some of the alleged torture may have occurred as far back as when the children were first placed into the family's home at least 10 years ago. USA TODAY contacted the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office on May 14 but has not received a response. 'We're deeply disturbed': Amazon driver caught pooping and peeing on customers' property Relatives held on $1 million bond each On May 14, a San Bernardino Superior Court clerk with the Victorville District told USA TODAY that the three relatives had not yet been formally charged. Officials said they are being held at the Central Detention Center on $1 million bond each. Court records do not show when their next hearing is. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Supported caregivers make for happier kids. This April, remember you matter.
Supported caregivers make for happier kids. This April, remember you matter. | Opinion Healthy and happy childhoods happen when parents have the support and community needed to thrive. Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu Every caregiver needs support along the way. The stress we feel as parents can affect the interactions we have with our loved ones and our kids. That's why this year's theme for National Child Abuse Prevention Month is 'Happy and healthy children have parents who feel supported.' The campaign emphasizes not only the needs of the child, but the needs of the parents and caregivers as well. Every April, we focus on raising awareness of family support and abuse prevention. Organizations and partners from around the state will join in support of prevention throughout the month. We encourage organizations, agencies and families across the state of Florida to plant pinwheel gardens and host events celebrating healthy, happy childhoods. Research shows that when parents' needs are met and they have friends, family and neighbors who support them as caregivers, their children thrive. Prevent Child Abuse Florida is here to help parents learn to build relationships with their children, manage stress and connect to their community for support and resources. One way caregivers can find support in Florida is our Circle of Parents program. Through Circle of Parents, anyone in a parental role can seek guidance while discussing the challenges and triumphs of raising children with other parents. These support groups provide a judgment-free, respectful environment that helps build community among caregivers. Opinion: RFK Jr. attacked kids as he lied about autism. Republicans voted for this. Every baby cries. Some babies cry a lot. Period of PURPLE Crying is a program that helps parents understand and cope with their baby's crying. If you are the parent of a newborn, check out our information about the Period of PURPLE Crying at Parents, don't know where to begin? Start with Hope Florida. Not sure how to find resources in your community? Look to the Hope Florida program through the Florida Department of Children and Families for additional support. Hope Florida was created by first lady Casey DeSantis and administered by the department with the goal of supporting Florida's families through the utilization of family mentors, called Hope Navigators. The Hope Navigators work with families to help identify and achieve goals as well as refer families to different community-based partners, such as Healthy Families Florida. To speak with a Hope Navigator, call (833) GET HOPE. More information about the program can be found at Opinion: It's weird, but I'm glad a racist called my son the N-word This April, we are not only celebrating prevention efforts; we are normalizing the act of asking for help. It's important that families have access to the support they need when they need it, where they need it and before there's a crisis. Healthy and happy childhoods happen when parents have the support and community needed to thrive. To learn about Child Abuse Prevention Month, read our new positive parenting guide, or download materials from our toolkit, visit Together, we can prevent abuse and neglect by supporting Florida's families. Chesley Richardson is the executive director for Prevent Child Abuse Florida, a program of the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. This column originally published in the Palm Beach Post.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Community organizations urge awareness at child abuse prevention rally at Michigan Capitol
Demetrius Starling, the senior deputy director for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Children's Services Administration (CSA) speaks at a Child Abuse Prevention rally in front of the Michigan Capitol Building on April 15, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols The best tool to combat the problem of child abuse is to prevent it from happening in the first place and that starts with awareness, violence prevention advocates said on the Michigan Capitol steps during a Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day rally on Tuesday. In-school violence educators and members of the criminal justice system gathered together during National Child Abuse Awareness Month to call attention to the importance of shining a light on violence against children so communities can respond more proactively to abuse. Child abuse is not an issue, it's a crisis, Senior Deputy Director for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Children's Services Administration Demetrius Starling told the crowd outside the Capitol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowlege child abuse and neglect as 'serious public health problems' which can have lifelong negative impacts on a person's health and opportunities. Physical harm, psychological abuse and sexual violence are all forms of child abuse that impact hundreds of millions of children globally, according to the World Health Organization. Child abuse is an every day problem that the adults in charge can't afford to ignore, Starling said. About one in six of Michigan's children experience abuse or neglect, according to Michigan state data. 'As a society, we have a moral obligation to protect children from harm. That's not rocket science. Preventing child abuse is a collective responsibility that reflects our values and commitment to human rights. Children are the future for our communities, and ensuring that safety and well being is essential for the continued growth and development of our society,' Starling said. 'Community awareness events play an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect by educating the public about available programs services and critical topics such as parent education.' And those programs are being utilized, Starling said, noting that in 2024, the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, a statewide nonprofit group funding child abuse prevention programming, partnered with community groups to organize 531 community awareness events which reached over 75,000 people. Eliminating child abuse can't simply be reactionary, though understanding the signs of abuse and neglect and reporting systems is valuable, Starling said. To truly fight child abuse, prevention has to be the focus. And that can be hard to make people understand, Michigan Children's Trust Fund Board Chair Amy Tattrie Loepp told attendees at the rally Tuesday. 'Prevention is a really tough thing to get funded, because how do you prove that something didn't happen,' Tarrie Loepp said. It's easier to get programs that respond to violence funded than prevention measures, Loepp said, but ultimately empowering schools, communities and families to heal and learn how to end cycles of violence saves the state money in responding to violence and creates a society where the smallest Michiganders can live with better opportunities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
USA Today
13-04-2025
- USA Today
Woman who reportedly fostered 200 kids accused of leaving girl at exotic animal collector
Woman who reportedly fostered 200 kids accused of leaving girl at exotic animal collector Brenda Ruth Deutsch was given a bond of $250,000. Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu A Missouri woman is facing abuse and neglect charges after being accused of paddling and abandoning a girl with an exotic animal collector in Texas. Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, was arrested on April 7 and charged with two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, Missouri court records show. The alleged crimes involved a girl under the age of 18, and occurred between Sept. 1, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2025, in Lincoln County, Missouri, a criminal complaint reads. In a probable cause statement obtained by USA TODAY, a peace officer with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office wrote that the allegations against Deutsch were sparked by an anonymous tip received by the state Department of Social Services on Nov. 26, 2024, reporting alleged physical and mental abuse of a child. Deutsch has fostered more than 200 children over the last 15 to 20 years, Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood told NBC News and KSDK. According to the prosecutor and court documents, Deustsch is also being investigated in connection with allegations of leaving the girl she's accused of abusing with a fellow exotic animal collector in Texas and refusing to take her back. Deutsch was given a bond of $250,000, Missouri court records show. She did not have a defense attorney listed in court records on Saturday. Girl told authorities Deutsch 'hit her with a lot of different things' During a mobile forensic interview on Dec. 4, 2024, the middle school-aged girl told authorities Deutsch "hit her with a lot of different things," the probable cause statement says. The girl described some of the objects as a paddle, trim and shoes, the court document says. The girl also alleged that Deutsch "smacked" her on the nose so hard one time it caused it to bleed, according to the probable cause statement. The girl told authorities that she spoke to multiple people about the abuse but no one believed her. The girl recalled an incident when one of Deutsch's family members held her down while Deutsch hit her on her bare bottom with a paddle, the probable cause document says. She said the hitting stopped when she stopped moving and was just quiet, so she just stayed still so the hitting would stop, according to the court filing. Girl reported missing from school, located in Texas The girl's absence from school in Missouri sparked an investigation Feb. 6, 2025, the probable cause document states. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office was told she was with the collector in Texas, according to the probable cause document. When an investigator contacted the Eastland Sheriff's Office in Texas, he spoke with the girl who said she was enrolled in school there, the probable cause document states. Authorities then spoke to the individual who was keeping the girl in Texas, and she claimed to be friends with Deutsch and helping her out because she and the child "were not getting along," the court document says. The woman also said she didn't wish to keep the child, but was forced to because Deutsch would not pay for a plane ticket to get the girl back home, the probable cause document says. The girl told deputies with the Eastland Sheriff's Office that the woman she was staying with didn't abuse her, but left her alone at the Texas home for a few days at a time to take care of her exotic animals, according to the court document. The woman would do this when she was out of town for work. Court docs: Girl barely had clothes, did not eat much while at Deutsch's home When speaking to authorities during a second forensic interview, the girl said Deutsch would take her clothes and belongings and put them in Goodwill boxes so she could donate them, according to the court document. This led to the girl barely having any clothing. The girl also said she was not fed well while at Deutsch's home, so she had to resort to stealing food because her daily sandwiches were not enough, the probable cause document says. She added that she didn't feel safe at the Deutsch's house and "ran away a lot" but always had to go back. The child told authorities that when Deutsch told the woman in Texas she could keep the girl, the foster mother said she'd "be keeping the check," per the probable cause document.
